Community Placemaking at Howard Commons

Located in Village of Howard, WI

The Grand Opening of Howard Commons began with a bang on Labor Day weekend with a cast of thousands attending the festivities and enjoying a vibrant new Village Center, in Howard, Wisconsin.

The Shive-Hattery team was challenged with creating an urban park, filled with amenities, to reinforce a sense of community, and provide space for outdoor reflection, interaction, performance, and fun!

The solution is a year-round community park that expresses the history of the region through architectural continuity utilizing local stone and natural materials. Along the center axis of the park sits a large, covered pavilion designed to accommodate seasonal farmers markets, roller skating, festivals, concerts, exhibitions, and civic gatherings. Refrigerated ice for skating will make the pavilion a beacon for activity even in the winter months. An activities center sits at the west of the pavilion and includes indoor seating, conference space, skate rental, ice-support operations, along with a full-length viewing window into the pavilion. The east end of the pavilion provides views overlooking an amphitheater with sloping lawns down to an open-air stage, which supports movie nights, outdoor concerts, and a variety of community events.

The south side of the pavilion overlooks the central paver boulevard lined by trees, terraced planters, and custom wood benches connecting visitors to the adjoining beer garden and splash pad. The large beer garden is anchored by a custom shipping container bar that serves a variety of local brews and beverages. The space is covered by a large tensile shade structure and filled with a variety of outdoor furniture, fire pits, and games. The neighboring splash pad is defined by a continuation of the custom wood benches and playful large concrete pebbles. The splash pad not only serves as a space for kids and parents alike to have fun but as a visual attraction for park visitors as they arrive through the inviting gateway pillars.

The September 3rd opening signaled the culmination of a year-long construction phase by Miron Construction of Green Bay, which transformed a three-acre site in the center of the Village, into a year-round family-oriented “place for people.” The park has already helped invigorate the Village of Howard and created a destination for residents in the greater Green Bay area to come and enjoy.